London Road, Slough, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Close to Heathrow's Terminal 5 and with easy access to Legoland Windsor
Attractive open-concept design with modern furniture and bright colors
Spacious rooms have flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi
Free hot and cold buffet breakfast
Two restaurants, a lounge bar, and Costa Coffee cafe offer a variety of dining
Small children's play area
Several meeting rooms and a business center are convenient
Parking and a shuttle bus service to terminal 5 are available (for a fee)
Free Wi-Fi signal is unreliable
Public transport is inconvenient for reaching the airport
No gym
The name of this Holiday Inn Express is a little misleading, as it's not actually located at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5. In fact, getting there can be awkward without a car, in which case you'll have to rely on the half-hourly shuttle bus. Rooms, however, are clean and contemporary with adequate amenities like flat-screen TVs and free (but spotty) Wi-Fi. A pretty good buffet breakfast is included, and all in all, its a good value stay, though perhaps more convenient for families visiting nearby Legoland than those getting that early flight.
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Scene
Functional, modern efficiency -- as expected at a mid-range chain
As one might expect from a chain hotel of this ilk, the Holiday Inn Express London - Heathrow T5 is housed in a boxy, modern, and generally unremarkable building rendered more unassuming with a palette of grays. Through a pair of sliding doors, the lobby is contemporary and low-key, with smart furnishings, and a sleek, simple reception desk. The tone of the hotel is one of efficiency and functionality, if a little lacking in the personal touch. Clientele tends to be business guests with meetings in the area, as well as those using the hotel as a stopover before an early flight. Families, too, find the location particularly useful for the nearby Legoland.
Location
On a busy road leading to Heathrow Airport
The hotel is located on the busy London Road, just off the M4 highway leading directly to Heathrow Airport. Despite the hotel's name, the location isn't necessarily super-convenient for people arriving from the airport, since taxis can't go there (due to a tax levy on local traffic). The hotel does run a shuttle service, which leaves every half hour; it takes 20 minutes and charges a fee. Guests arriving by car, though, can park at the hotel. The location is convenient for visits to Legoland Windsor, about a 15-minute drive away, or Slough, which is 20 minutes by car.
Rooms
Spacious, modern rooms include flat-screen TVs with satellite channels
The hotel has 300 rooms, all of which are clean and contemporary, with smart, simple furnishings, mood lighting, and modern art. Standard amenities include free Wi-Fi (though the signal can be weak without the upgrade), tea and coffee facilities, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Bathrooms are clean and modern with hairdryers, walk-in showers, and good quality toiletries. A lack of soundproofing between some rooms may be an issue, and the second bed is often a sofa-bed.
Features
Free buffet breakfast, and a lounge bar with a Costa Coffee cafe
The hotel serves a free buffet breakfast each morning in the Great Room dining area, which also has a Costa Coffee, Lounge Bar, and small play area for kids. A colorful and contemporary Italian restaurant adjacent is also open for lunch and dinner. Parking is available on-site for a fee, and although Wi-Fi is free throughout, guests might need to pay to upgrade for a decent speed. A hotel shuttle bus runs to-and-from Terminal 5 every 30 minutes (for a fee).
